Migrant Missions Videos

Those of you who actually know me will no doubt have seen both of these videos, but I wanted to write some commentary on them and put them here also for those of you who haven't. Or for anyone who wants to watch again. (Maybe I'm the only one who's watched them like 20 times...ok, probably more than that...haha). But anyway, here goes.

Top Video: The first version of this video was created in late 2007 as a response to some opposition in the church I was at. I showed it after the service on a laptop in a booth sort of situation. I also posted it on youtube and it got lots of negative attention and created some interesting debate. People still see it and comment occasionally. It has the most exposure of any of my migrant videos since it came out when political campaigns were in full swing, and thus "immigration" was a real buzz word. For a long time it was my highest youtube view count video.

The 2007 version had a lot of "filler" footage, fields of corn and pumpkins that didn't really have impact, because I didn't have near the footage I have now from subsequent trips 2008-2010 that I added into the Training Camp version above (read my Training Camp posts for more info on how that went). Really, I didn't touch the video until I had the opportunity to show it at a Generation 4 Justice Conference this past March (2011), at which point I took footage I'd shot in 2008 and 2009 and added it in, along with some additional still images that were more powerful than the footage that was there previously. I also removed a Bible verse I'd unintentionally taken out of context and double checked that the others were in fact in context, which they are. That version is nearly identical to this one, as this one was made only 3 months later (June 2011). However, I found 2010 footage and incorporated it into this final version, really perfecting it as best I could in the time crunch I was under. The differences are really minor and the average viewer wouldn't even notice them. I had to watch the two versions back to back to pick out what changed.

That said, it is a stronger version, if only mildly, and definitely left a mark at training camp. It would be interesting for those who went on the ACC mission trip to watch that version again and see what kids you recognize. Jenny, Sayra, and Lucia are in it for sure, and I have no doubt that some of the same kids from Camp 2 are as well.

 

The post-mission trip version was as much a work of love and a "baby" project of my (as in it's a very special piece to me.) I knew from before Training Camp that I was absolutely going to make this video, even if it was all that got made from the footage. To this point, other than a couple personal videos I made for a couple close friends, this is all that's come out so far. Five hours of footage came home with me in August 2011 and I went through every second of it multiple times. It was a much longer initial editing process than my 2007 version, simply because I had far more GOOD footage. I have over 5 hours of footage for that one, but much of it was extremely shaky, or constantly moving every which way, or just not shots that communicated. I've learned A LOT about what to look for and shoot, so it was a much more intensive process. I had a rough cut of it, sat on it, then literally probably doubled the number of clips in the final section.

Other big changes (besides the obvious of going to HD) were that the text got a lot fancier and moved. An additional Bible verse that was central to the trip (the only New Testament verse in the video) was added as well fairly late in the editing process because I felt like it should be there. 

Perhaps one of the most significant differences is very little of it happens at the Dillinger Camp as that is now closed down and I wasn't able to shoot any new footage there. I did use a few pieces of SD footage I'd shot in 2007 (famous car dealership shot, bathrooms, and a couple other shots) because I didn't have enough of the Sakuma Camps without people in them to make it compelling and I wasn't about to go the "corn for 2 minutes" route again.

My favorite significant difference in the format of the two versions is the crucifixion section with the kids with the red filter over them (signifying that they're washed in Jesus' blood) and words like "Chosen" and "Adored". It was actually a last minute inspiration. That segment just didn't have the power I wanted, and the clip of the crucifixion skit was dragging and lacking punch just playing normally, and it occurred to me... "what if..." and several hours of experimentation later the final cut of it was born (not to mention it let me get a few more shots of the kids in). I also added the thunder in the background, which is not featured in the original recording of the song "Sueno De Morir" to really kick up the punch.

What I love is it really paints a picture of the gospel as a whole - that Jesus died so we could be "Chosen" "Adored" "Forgiven" etc by God - and that those of these kids that have accepted Christ ARE those things even if the world doesn't see them that way.

Even if you've seen the videos I hope you enjoyed the explanation of their history and what's changed over the years and why.

If you couldn't tell, these kids are one of (possibly THE) greatest blessing God's poured out in my life and I really love and miss them all.

Migrant Mission Day 3: Sakuma Camp 3 Part 1

The morning was incredibly brutal. I woke up from a really deep, intense nightmare and I was out of it all through breakfast. The fear about letting the kids at Camp 2 down, and being exactly what I'd intended NOT to be (a flake), weighed heavy on my heart.

We did get quiet time (Praise Jesus) and God just put a fire in my heart. I really fought hard in prayer for the kids at both camps. I wanted God to turn what I viewed as my failure into something better than I could have purposed. I really pleaded for us to be Christ to the kids at Camp 1 and 3 (as I said in my previous post they are essentially the same Camp. From this point I'll refer to it just as Camp 3.) I don't remember everything I prayed, but at the conclusion of it I had a very clear sense that God's heart was the same as mine for these kids and He didn't want me to fear that the mission would fall through. I had a strong sense of what needed to happen for these kids.

We had worship time, which for me and a few others turned into war time. One of our people felt sick, and I knew she could not go down and not make it to Camp 3. Not to mention I was worried about her. So I went into worship/warrior mode. Singing some, and praying really seriously. Talking to God in battle mode. If you've never done that, and haven't got a sense of what it looks like from my previous blog posts, basically it boils down to being in the mindset of a radioman in the middle of a war zone with stuff blowing up around me and bullets hitting my buddies. I felt like she was hit and needed a medic - and that God needed to provide. And that medic couldn't be me because I have no gift in healing (at that moment I was pissed I didn't.) God did answer the prayer and three of the girls from the team prayed with her and she broke through the sick feeling and warfare that was slamming her.

On a much less important level - apparently if you want to scare the ACC youth and don't have Canned Salmon around whole wheat, whole grain peanut butter sandwiches are creepy. Don't ask me why, but people were like "WHAA???"

Abbey and Sami were back on for their same message since it was a whole new camp. BJ had purchased a portable sound system that we could utilize to make the music louder, as well as help our talking.

We rolled out and as per usual my anxiety level started to rise. Would it work out? Was this the right place to be?

We arrived and there were almost no kids out, period. I was like "AAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!" (In my head), and after a couple minutes put a few people: Sami, Hannah and I don't remember who else on praying that kids would show up and we could minister to them.

After another minute or two we headed out to the soccer field where some older kids (probably 15-17) were playing soccer. Within minutes I was running into kids I knew. What killed me in a good way is they knew exactly who I was. They remembered my name.

I have to talk about some of them for a little bit before my narrative continues. There's Sayra, who's one of my favorite little girls. I wish I could be her older brother or uncle or something. I met her in 2009 when I first went to Camp 3. She was my buddy then. Last year I didn't see near as much of her and it made me sad. So this year I decided "I'm investing in this little girl this year come hell or high water." Both of which, in a sense, had already come and would continue to come, as is the way of missions.


Then there was her sister Jenny. She's another gem. I got to spend a lot of time with her too, and she melted my heart. I really was able to connect with her again this year as well. If I had little sisters, Jenny and Sayra would be the little sisters I'd want. They now have a baby brother I don't think I'd met before and they take such good care of him. Really tickled me how they watched out for him, tied his shoes and just took care of him.

Then there's Lucia. She's always been a bit shy of me, but man did she remember me. And she asked "When is Mara coming?" Over the course of this trip she warmed up to me, but for most of it I didn't get hugs from her. She's adorable tho. She's 4 or 5 now I think. I first met her at the same time I met Jenny and Sayra.

Anna is another one of that same group. I didn't connect as much with her this year, but she's precious too.

Moises is one that posse too, and he's awesome. I'm guessing he's about 8 now and it's always struck me how easy going and gentle he is. I pray he doesn't lose that, 'cause a lot of migrant boys do and that'd break my heart.

The rest of the kids I'll let you meet along the way. In the interest of actually keeping the blog moving forward, and not having massive posts, I'm going to break day 3 into two parts, so be on the lookout for the second part soon!